Trip 029 - East Matukituki Valley

 

DATE: February 4-6, 2023 (Waitangi 3-Day Weekend)
LEADER: Richard and Tracy Pettinger (03 487 9488)
TRIP GRADE: Moderate upwards)
MEET: Clubrooms, 6pm (Friday 3 Feb)

In the club’s photo archive there are photos of club members in the East Matukituki valley as early as the 1930’s, but regular club trips didn’t commence until the 1950’s and 1960’s as roads and vehicles improved. Life Member Ron Keen has written about a pretty dramatic attempt to cross over the Albert Burn Saddle from the East Matukituki during Easter 1963 (this will be republished closer to the trip).

The East Matukituki is a spectacular valley, with the jewel in the crown being Aspiring Flats, arguably one of the most picturesque areas in Mt Aspiring National Park. The valley has no huts, and access is not to the standard in the West Branch, which means far fewer people get to visit this amazing valley.

This trip is three days, which provides the following options:

• Aspiring Flats – spend the middle day exploring towards Turnbull Thomson Falls and / or Rainbow Stream

• Head up to Wilmot Saddle via the Rainbow, and scramble up Sisyphus Peak (best views in MANP)

• Camp on or near Albert Burn Saddle, and have a go at climbing Dragonfly Peak (2165m)

• A fit and experienced party with the right conditions could complete the Rainbow-Sisyphus-Ruth Flat- Bledisloe circuit in three days.